LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A Union Pacific engineer has won the right to take his service dog to work, six years after the railroad declined to allow the dog to accompany the man to work and three years after he filed suit.
After a five-day trial, a U.S. District Court jury unanimously decided Perry Hopman, 45, of Benton, Ark., in its Friday decision, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. The jury also awarding $250,000 to the former Army flight medic, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2008 and is a survivor of a traumatic brain injury that occurred during a 2010 deployment to Kosovo.
His dog, Atlas, a 125-pound Rottweiler, can help Hopman address anxiety, remind him to take his medicine, keep crowds away, warn of an approaching migraine, and wake Hopman from nightmares, among other skills.
Hopman told the newspaper the ability to take the dog to work “a dream come true.” He had acknowledged the ability to perform his duties without the dog — the primary reason the railroad denied his request, according to its attorney during closing arguments — but said its presence would allow him to be more comfortable mentally and physically.
Maybe they can make a backpack for him so he can carry a knuckle. 🙂
I find it interesting that he was diagnosed with PTSD from a previous deployment in 2008 and the military sent him back into action in 2010.
UPS and FedEx wouldn’t allow him to drive a truck in this condition, but his disability doesn’t impact the movement of a PSR sized train. OK. gotcha.
The aritcle does not specify what type of engineer he is (locomotive, civil, chemical, etc.) but if loco, how in the world does one get a 125 pound Rottweiler into and out of the cab?